Day: March 2, 2024

Mr Sylvester Basagnia, the Upper West Regional Coordinator of the Mental Health Authority, has appealed to the media to remain responsible and ethical to help end discrimination in all forms.

He said the media must desist from using terms that were not dignifying to a particular group of people in their reportage as that could further perpetuate discrimination and stigma against that group.

‘The media should be able to use terms that are dignifying. ‘If you tag someone as, let’s say a mad person, an imbecile, this is an insane person, these are negative terms that tend to stereotype’, Mr Basagnia explained.

He made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa in relation to the ‘Zero Discrimination Day’, marked on 1st March on the theme: ‘To Protect Everyone’s Health, Protect Everyone’s Rights’.

He said the day was a laudable global call for all well-meaning persons in society to come together as advocates to speak out against discrimination against persons based on their social or he
alth conditions.

Mr Basagnia indicated that the media should use positive disability language in describing persons with mental illness and be ambassadors to advocate the rights of every person irrespective of his or her disability status.

‘Sometimes on TV shows or other media role, plays what they use to show that someone is mentally fiddled is someone in tattered clothes or someone behaving haphazardly,’ he observed, and said that portrayal was a basis for stigma, discrimination, and stereotype.

The Regional Mental Health Coordinator said ignorance and lack of information on mental health issues for instance were some of the key drivers of stigma and discrimination against persons with mental illness.

He, therefore, charged the media to take up the responsibility of educating the public on conditions such as HIV or mental illness that predispose a person to discrimination and stigma.

‘Through discrimination, people are ostracised, they are made less of a human being that self-importance is low, and the
y face a whole lot of isolation and that affects their human rights and dignity,’ Mr Basagnia stated.

He said social inclusion was essential for the elimination of stigma and discrimination against persons with mental illness.

Source: Ghana News Agency

In a collaborative effort to instil values of integrity and accountability in the upcoming workforce, the Government Secretarial School has joined forces with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

The school, dedicated to providing high-quality secretarial training to civil service and the public, welcomed the OSP’s Youth Against Corruption Initiative, which focuses on educating trainees about the implications of corruption on society and the importance of countering corrupt practices from an early age.

As part of this initiative, OSP officials conducted training sessions at the school, covering topics such as the role and functions of the office, its specialised nature as an autonomous agency dedicated solely to the fight against corruption, and the definition of corruption and related activities.

A key component of the training was a detailed presentation on whistleblowing and its significance in upholding transparency and accountability.

Trainees were introduced to the concept and importance of f
ostering a culture of reporting, emphasizing the crucial role whistle-blowers play in ensuring ethical conduct and creating a responsible and accountable environment nationwide.

The presentation also provided insights into the various reporting mechanisms available at the OSP.

Furthermore, trainees were educated on the protection and reward schemes offered by the OSP to individuals who successfully assist the office in uncovering corruption and securing convictions.?

The OSP’s visit sparked valuable feedback from both students and teachers, expressing interest in future interventions and collaborations with the OSP.

The collaborative effort between the Government Secretarial School and the OSP signifies a proactive approach to shaping a future workforce that prioritises ethical conduct, transparency, and accountability in the public sector.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Augustus Nkrumah, an investigator, says his description of Daniel Asiedu as a ‘terrible guy’ is not his opinion.

At the High Court, ASP Nkrumah said per the statements given by Daniel Asiedu and Vincent Bossu, both accused persons in the J. B Danquah Adu murder case, the accused persons stated clearly that they were ‘thieves and they were going on a stealing expedition.’

According to the investigator, the accused persons graduated from thieves to armed robbers because of the offensive implements they possessed.

‘For an armed robber to have those offensive weapons indicated that he was capable of resisting anything in the commission of the crime so when the first accused person (Asiedu) had the chance of entering the deceased room, he was to make sure that whatever prevented him from robbing was eliminated.’

ASP Nkrumah said this while answering questions under cross examination administered by Mr Yaw Dankwa, defence counsel for the two accused persons.

He maintain
ed that it was Asiedu who murdered the MP, adding investigations and the admission of the accused person (Asiedu) in the commission of the crime and retrieval of offensive weapons and belongings pointed to the fact it was Asiedu who killed the MP.

Daniel Asiedu is being held for his alleged involvement in the murder of the Abuakwa North Member of Parliament, J. B Danquah Adu, at his residence in 2016 at Shaishie, Accra.

Daniel Asiedu is being held for murder and robbery.

His accomplice, Vincent Bossu, is being held for allegedly conspiring with Asiedu to rob.

They have pleaded not guilty before a seven-member jury.

The court presided over by Mrs Justice Lydia Osei Marfo has remanded the two accused persons into prison custody.

ASP Nkrumah, the eighth prosecution witness, said when the deceased put up resistance, ‘what first accused person (Asiedu) could do is to stab him (the late MP) in the neck and chest about six times for the deceased to give up the ghost.’

The investigator told the court that it w
as incorrect for defence counsel to suggest to him that he formed an opinion that Asiedu murdered the MP from November 23, 2016, without conducting investigations.

The eighth prosecution witness said investigations at the time established that it was Asiedu who murdered the MP.

The investigator admitted that he personally wrote his own statement.

According to the investigator, his own statement was not tendered in evidence because he has not been asked to do so.

ASP Nkrumah denied that he was selective in his investigations.

He told the court that 11 statements, including caution statements were taken from the accused persons.

The matter has been adjourned to March 11, 2024

Source: Ghana News Agency

The youth of Kandiga and Doba in the Kassena-Nankana West District and Kassena-Nankana Municipality have reaffirmed their commitment to preserve the prevailing peace between the two communities.

The two communities engaged in a communal conflict that lasted almost three years due to a misunderstanding over a piece of land leading to the loss of lives and destruction of properties.

It took the intervention of a team of traditional leaders led by Naba Atogumdeya Akwara II, the Paramount Chief of the Sirigu Traditional Area with support from other stakeholders including the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga to mediate and helped the communities to embrace peace in 2023.

After almost a year since peace was brokered, a nondenominational service was held to mark the beginning of the restoration of peace and stability between the two communities, where the youth vowed to work to sustain the peace and continue to work together towards developing the two communities harmoniously.

This became known at Pusu-Na
mongo in the Talensi District during training on business for peace, organised by the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organisation (NABOCADO), a faith-based organisation.

Under the Integrated Peacebuilding for Improved Food and Nutrition Support (INPEACE) project, with funding support from the MISEREOR, the engagement brought together youth from both Kandiga and Doba communities to deliberate on ways to sustain the peace.

Mr Dominic Aware, Chairman of the Kandiga youth, noted that the conflict had caused lots of wounds to the communities and had retarded the development of the communities which they wished had not happened.

He said apart from sticking to the terms of the peace agreement, the two communities had established internal structures that had over the year helped to resolve small disagreements among residents of the communities.

‘Unlike before where we could not cross to each other’s community, now we attend each other’s markets, functions, funerals and even dine and wine togeth
er. We also undertake our farming activities and our businesses without fear because we understand that the conflict was destroying us,’ he added.

Mr Raymond Ajusiwine, Chairman of the Doba youth, explained that access to water from a dam located within the two communities by farmers for dry season farming was one of the issues that was still creating problems, however, the two communities had established structures where cases were referred to for impartial redress.

‘It has worked really well for us, and the young people are appreciating that we are one and there is no need to fight over resources that we can all benefit and we intend to keep the prevailing peace,’ he assured.

Naba Thomas Aluman Apasinaba II, the Paramount Chief of Sherigu Traditional Area and member of the mediation team, commended the two communities for embracing and preserving peace over the year, adding that it had restored life back to the communities.

He appealed to government and major institutions to assist the communities with
social and economic support to ensure that their livelihoods were fully restored and propel accelerated development.

Dr Joseph Bangu, the Director of Good Governance, Justice and Peace Directorate, NABOCADO, commended the two communities for their commitment to consolidating the existing peace which the Catholic Church under the Sahel Peace Initiative had played a role.

He appealed to people seeking political positions in the upcoming general elections to work towards developing the two communities and desist from activities and statements that would mar the prevailing peace.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Sympathisers including political figures, heads of institutions, traditional rulers, and others have gathered at the Keta Senior High School (Ketasco) park for the final funeral rites of the late Mrs Gertrude Essie Quashigah, former National School Feeding Programmes Coordinator.

Mrs Quashigah, was also the wife of the late Major Courage Quashigah, a former Minister of Health as well as Agriculture under the John Kuffour-led administration.

As of 0820 hours on Saturday, March 02, 2024, the Ghana News Agency observed sympathisers from all walks of life who were waiting to pay their last respects.

There was heavy security presence, whilst canopies and chairs were arranged for sympathisers to have a comfortable atmosphere for the final burial service.

Earlier, a family vigil was held on Friday, March 01, 2024, about 1900 hours at the late Major Quashigah’s residence at Dzelukope, a suburb of Keta.

Interment and final burial rites are expected to be held at Zotorglo Family Cemetery at Keta at 1100 hours whic
h would be followed by a thanksgiving service at the Roman Catholic Church, Dzelukope on Sunday, March 3.

Before her departure, Mrs Quarshigah was also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ambar Quality Foods Limited, where she dedicated herself to the progress and promotion of education in the country.

Born on February 1, 1960, Mrs Quashigah died on Sunday, November 12, at age 63.

She left behind three children, a female and two males.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A thirteen-year-old girl who was on her way to school died in a gruesome accident which occurred at Kwabedu in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality on Friday morning.

The accident which happened around 6:30 am involved a Tata school bus with registration number GN 681-11, belonging to Lee’s Kingdom Kids Montessori School.

Information gathered by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) from eyewitnesses who had their shops along the Kwabedu stretch alleged that the driver in charge of the bus had about thirty- three children and adults on board the bus.

They said the bus was transporting the children from Tarkwa to Kwabedu where the school is located, but when the driver got to a portion of the road, a taxicab from the opposite direction overtook a vehicle ahead of him, and suddenly met the bus at a close interval.

As a result, the bus driver, in an attempt to avoid crashing the taxi, swerved after which the vehicle landed in a ditch with the deceased who happened to be passing by to school trapped under it.

All the occupa
nts in the bus who sustained some injuries were rescued and rushed to the Goldfields and the Tarkwa Municipal hospitals by a section of the public who went to the accident scene.

Further checks at the two hospitals by the GNA revealed that the deceased was pronounced dead on arrival, but all the others have been treated and discharged.

The body has since been deposited at the Tarkwa Municipal hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The first batch of athletes and officials from Algeria, Benin, Congo, Sierra Leone, Togo have checked in at the Games Village ahead of the 13th?African Games, Accra 2023.

The first batch comprised mainly athletes from badminton and table tennis since these sport codes begin their competition on Sunday, March 3.

For Algeria, a total of 40 athletes and officials made up of 22 athletes, five medical team, seven officials and four administrative staff were checked in by the Games Family and Village Services subcommittee of the Local Organising Committee.

Benin also had a team of 10 made up of seven athletes and three officials while Congo had just a table tennis player coming in.

Sierra Leone had three made up two athletes and an official while Togo, who were first to arrive at the Village had 16 made up of nine athletes, two medical doctors, two coaches and three officials. ??

Some teams expected to arrive today are Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Tunisia, Madagascar, and Eritrea.

The Games Village for the
13th?edition of the African Games is situated on the campus of the University of Ghana.

The official opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at the newly commissioned University of Ghana Sports Stadium on March 08, 2024.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Professor Afua Adwo Jectey Hesse, President of Accra College of Medicine, has called on medical professionals to stay in the country and contribute to its rapid development.

She emphasised that each person had a duty to contribute to the development of the country, so ‘love your country and don’t be in a hurry to abandon it to go and develop another country.’

Professor Hesse was speaking at a White Coat ceremony to induct students at School of Medicine and Pharmacy of the University of Health and Allied Science (UHAS) in Ho, in the Volta Region into their clinical year after successfully completing their pre-clinical training.

The President urged the students to follow God’s guidance to transform the nation into what they want it to be, saying ‘we are the only ones who can develop our own country.’

Speaking on the theme: ‘The Path to Entrepreneurial Excellence in Healthcare,’ she challenged the students to adopt a mindset that would allow them create jobs for themselves rather than waiting on the governme
nt.

The President said integrity was key in the health profession, and truth telling always paid a great dividend, hence they must cherish them, and that ‘what is right is right and what is wrong can never be right.’

‘ Be known for being just and not discriminatory in terms of social status or financial means of education or education or anything else that will make people feel inferior when they’re in your presence or that will discriminate to make people feel more superior,’ she said.

Professor Hesse urged the students to never stop adding value to themselves, strive for excellence in all they do, and be creative, so they could seize the possibilities that presented themselves.

The President advised them to treat everyone with respect and dignity and to avoid looking down on them because rules and conditions could change suddenly.

She warned them to be mindful of their time, saying that since procrastination is the real time-thief, they should avoid it like the plague.

Professor Hesse urged the studen
ts to view all their experiences as learning opportunities and to view every obstacle as a problem that had a solution waiting to be discovered.

Professor Lydia Aziato, Vice Chancellor of the University asked the students observe ethical principles as healthcare professionals, noting that the white coat signified professionalism, compassion, and purity.

She urged the students to commit themselves to their studies and training to acquire the requisite skills necessary to become good health workers.

Prof Aziato used the event to appeal for support to complete the University’s laboratory complex.

Source: Ghana News Agency